Fernando de Noronha - Clearance
Fernando de Noronha is an official port of entry and yachts are expected to arrive with appropriate visas for all crew (see Immigration for visa details).
See Brazil Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of Brazil.
General Process:
Once anchored, head into the small harbor in Baia de Santo Antonio – watch out for local boat lines. Tie your dinghy to the pontoon (3°50.04’S 32°24.12’W) and report to the Port Captain’s office, which is the first building on the right at the top of the wooden steps leading up the hill from the beach.
Office hours: 08:00-11:00 and 14:00-17:00 (immigration may only be available in the afternoon).
You will need to complete formalities with the Port Captain, Park Administration officials and the Military Police who handle Immigration. The Port Captain will either have officials come to his office or drive you to them and, bar timings as to who is available when, clearance is straightforward and easy. Cruisers report having to wait half a day for Immigration.
Note, this is a very small office, so if there is more than one boat checking in/out at the same time, it can get very crowded. Better to wait at a cafe/bar across the street for your turn.
There are no Receita Federal (Customs officials) on Fernando de Noronha, so if you visit another Brazilian port a visit to Receita Federal is due. Read this useful blog by a boat that cleared in with the remainder of the authorities in Recife (Feb 2023) after leaving Noronha.
On arrival you will need to provide your next port of call and your expected departure date – officials have no problem if this changes. Clearing out is a similar process.
The Port Captain is very helpful and will happily brief you on the island and arrange transport etc. Speaking Spanish is an advantage, otherwise, he uses Google translate.
Fees:
The Port Captain will brief you on all applicable charges. There is a daily anchoring fee and a daily environmental fee per person.
There is an additional fee if you want to visit the marine reserve part of the island – this opens up a few more beaches and trails – which is a one-off payment for 10 days of access.
A 44ft catamaran with 4 crew reported paying 1555 BRL (~ 255 EUR) in total in December 2024.
Last updated: December 2024
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Docking
Related to following destinations: Brazil, Fernando de Noronha, Offshore Islands (Brazil)
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Brazil
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
We visited Fernando de Noronha on our trip from South Africa to the Caribbean. The port captain was very helpful but the office is very small and if there are more than one boat checking in or out it becomes ver crowded and it is better to wait outside or at a pub on the other side of the street. We had to fill a lot of forms and the port captain manages to bring all needed people (Costums and immigration ) together. For the immigration we had to wait a few hours. At the clearing out there had been 5 boats checking in at the same time so the process was slower and slightly chaotic. We had to wait for the immigration very long (half a day). In the end everybody was happy and we paid 1555.- BRL (~ 255.- EUR) for our 44ft catamaran and 4 pax all together.
The dinghy dock is abit crowded too as there are a lot of fishing and diving vessels coming and going. Th e people on board of these boats are very helpful and show you, where to tie your dinghy to.
The highlight of the anchorange was a big school of dolphins visiting every morning.
The secret gem we found was the Pizzaria near Praia do Cachorro. You are sitting in the middle of the jungle listnening to good music and enjoiying very nice pizza.
Reported by Paul Lever – SY Georgia:
We cleared into Noronha.
The island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil is open to cruising boats. All crew MUST show proof of Covid vaccination. Unvaccinated crew will be sent back to their vessel immediately and not allowed to land. Visas for Brazil are issued for 90 days (for most nationalities). Daily anchoring and environmental fees are not insignificant (you can get one day at no fee). We paid for 2 crew for 4 days at approx, 1,450 Brazilian real. Port Captain and other officials are extremely helpful to cruisers. The anchorage can be rolly.
There is no shortage of restaurants on the island and several can be found close to the main village (3°50.7’S 32°24.68’W).
Cafe San Miguel is popular with Brazilians for its lunchtime buffet.
Bar do Meio 3°50.38S’ 32°24.89W’ is a firm favourite for sundowners with its view over the I Da Conceicao.
In the port, the Shark Museum has a good menu with views to the east.
We were able to clear immigration to enter Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.
The port office was the building on the right at the top of the wooden steps leading up the hill from the beach, then all the officials came to us there.
Office hours are 8:00-11:00 and 14:00-17:00 (immigration may only be available in the afternoon).
When we arrived in Jacare we still had to visit customs and the Port office (but not immigration which was apparently the very slow bit).
Costs to stop at Fernando de Noronha are:
Anchoring fee: 226.40R$/day (10m boat)
Park preservation tax: 70.66R$/person/day (first day free). Our 2-day visit with 2 people cost us 594.12R$.
There is an additional fee if you want to visit the marine reserve part of the island which is 1 payment and allows 10 days of access (we didn’t do this and just explored the northern beaches).
We arrived at night, but with a torch we could stay well off (west) the anchored / moored boats and find a suitable spot in 11m. In the morning we moved closer to the harbour entrance (breakwall). Depending on the direction of the wind, it can roll quite a bit and a calmer spot would be more to the east, beyond the breakwater.
Checking in with Marcos went fine. He had immigration and the park authorities come to his office and we got a 90-day visa for Brazil. Note that the anchoring fee and environmental taxes have to be paid for each calendar (including the day of arrival). We could pay Marcos later that day after our visit to the the village (ATM). In town, you can buy the visitor pass for the national park, but we found the “free” part of the island offered enough for our short stay, including beautiful beaches. Turtles and dolphins swim in the bay of the anchorage. The island is absolutely stunning.